Social Isolation in Older Adults Transitioning to Assisted Living Facilities

Social Isolation in Older Adults Transitioning to Assisted Living Facilities Background: Social isolation describes the objective state of being lonely, whereas loneliness is a subjective feeling based on relationships (Rohr et al., 2022). In a meta-analysis, 33% of an elderly population experienced social isolation (Ran et al., 2024). Based on the framework of loneliness, social isolation, and associated health outcomes (Barnes et al., 2020), the purposes of this study were to describe experiences of social isolation, loneliness, and strategies that decreased these experiences in older adults following a move to assisted living. Methods: Using a qualitative approach, residents 65 and older (N=10), without cognitive deficits who moved to a facility within the past 3-12 months were interviewed. Participants completed the Mini-Cog© for inclusion prior to answering nine open-ended questions. After each interview, participants completed the UCLA loneliness scale. Constant comparison was used to identify major categories. Results: Participants 70-92 years (M=82.20, SD=7.64) were female (80%) and a widow/widower (60%). Three main categories emerged: (a) resolved to leave home, (b) trust in a safe system to meet needs, and (c) having to accept a new normal. UCLA scores demonstrated a moderate degree of loneliness (M=38.25, SD=15.56). Conclusions: Early detection of social isolation is essential to improve quality of life (Ran et al., 2024) and prevent illness in older adults (Jansson et al., 2021). While loneliness and the need to move impacted these older adults, their involvement in the choice and receiving a tailored experience improved their transition (Sun et al., 2021)

The Map of Wilderland: Ecocritical Reflections on Tolkien’s Myth of Wilderness (2022) by Amber Lehning

Book review, by Andrew Higgins, of The Map of Wilderland: Ecocritical Reflections on Tolkien’s Myth of Wilderness (2022) by Amber Lehnin

Life Becomes Art: How Franz Schubert\u27s Music Reflects his Life

Composers use musical composition as a form of autobiographical writing, both intentionally and unintentionally. Musical works can reflect the lived experiences of their creators even when the works themselves are not intended as personal revelations. Especially when it comes to the life and works of Franz Schubert, scholars such as Susan Youens and Lorraine Byrne Bodley have researched Schubert’s songs through the lenses of memoirs and journals, discovering certain heightened emotional aspects in his choice of lyrics and deliberate harmonic structures that appear to reflect autobiographical experiences. By regarding his songs as a reflection of his inner struggles, such as at the end of his life during his battle with syphilis, we hear an artist’s private statement about his life and relationships that he could not otherwise utter publicly. Based on my findings, I have discovered these autobiographical experiences within Schubert’s music tell a linear narrative of his life, and when one listens to his scores in order of publication, they discern a unique tale. Through a musical analysis of Schubert’s intentional text painting, this study delves deeper into Schubert’s seemingly simple lieder and probes the depths of how his personal life experiences, such as the death of his mother or his personal relationships with Josef Spaun and Franz von Schober, affected his musical creation in such a profound way

What American Executives Can Learn from Japanese Leadership

Japanese leadership has encompassed worldwide success. For example, Toyota is an example of a leading and successful Japanese company. With its new and creative ideas, this company was able to rebuild the marginalized image of Japanese vehicles in the international business scene and take a large share of the car market in the world. We identified 5 secrets of success and long-term survival of Japanese companies: strategy, social capital, new competencies, leadership development, and systems approach. We will examine each and address how CEOs can emulate the success of Japanese leadership

A List of the Fulgoroidea (Homoptera) of Southern Illinois

A list of the fulgoroids of southern Illinois is presented with information on their distributions within the state

Representing Middle-earth: Tolkien, Form, and Ideology (2024), by Robert T. Tally, Jr.

Nook review, by Andrew Higgins, of Representing Middle-earth: Tolkien, Form, and Ideology (2024), by Robert T. Tally, Jr

The Distribution Of Some Soil Arthropods In A Manipulated Ecosystem

[Excerpt] Soil cultivation practices and agricultural utilization affect soil animal populations in various ways. Gisin (1955) and Schalk (1968) concluded that the effect was minimal. Others observed a deleterious effect (Karg, 1956; Sheals, 1956; Strebel, 1957; Aleinikova and Utrobina, 1975; Edwards and Lofty, 1975). However, some soil animals appear to be benefited (Aleinikova and Utrobina, 1975; Edwards and Lofty, 1975). The effects of cultivation and many other factors have been discussed thoroughly in reviews by Christiansen (1964), Burges and Raw (1967), Butcher, et al. (1971), Ghilarov (1975), and Wallwork (1976)

Progress Towards New Antimicrobial Agents

Bacterial and fungal infections are among the greatest causes of death worldwide. With the continued growth of drug-resistant antimicrobials comes a greater challenge fighting these “superbugs”. Because of this, the need for new and alternative pathways for fighting these diseases is both necessary and prevalent. Previous work from our lab has explored extracts of the Argemone mexicana plant to identify key molecules that give the plant its antimicrobial properties. Our current work centers around berberine, one of the key molecules, and designing and synthesizing structural variants. Several of our prior variants showed marked improvement over the plant-derived compound against gram-positive bacteria. The goal is to continue generating new and more potent antimicrobial drugs. Much of the recent work is focused on expanded hydrophobic units in the variant structures. The compounds discovered in this work may lead to the development of more selective antimicrobial drugs

Mindfulness in the Military: A Weaponization of Buddhism

Buddhism has long been linked to peace, mindfulness, and self-awareness, yet its philosophies have increasingly been used in military settings. This paper explores the weaponization of Buddhist practices in psychotherapy, particularly in the military, where militarized forms of mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy (MBSR) are used to strengthen soldiers\u27 mental resilience and combat readiness. While MBSR has been recognized for its therapeutic benefits, its use in the military raises ethical concerns about whether religious practices are being repurposed in secular settings that go against their original purpose. Through a review of existing research, this paper examines how Buddhist principles—traditionally meant to thrive through the acceptance of suffering—are instead used to help soldiers handle stress, stay focused, and perform better under pressure during active duty. This paper outlines the basic principles of Buddhism, the differences between psychotherapy mindfulness and Buddhist mindfulness, and the ethical concerns of using a secularized form of mindfulness in settings like the military. The discussion draws from Buddhist ethics, military psychology, and modern critiques of mindfulness. Ultimately, this review aims to reveal the reconfiguration of spiritual traditions in psychotherapy and military environments and questions whether these adaptations stay true to Buddhism’s core values or simply become tools for improving military strategy. Future use of secular mindfulness, especially in military settings, should be approached with greater cultural awareness and ethical consideration, ensuring that these practices are not stripped of their historical and moral contexts but are instead applied in ways that respect their origins and support mental wellbeing

Consumption of Insect Pests by the Evening Bat (Nycticeius humeralis) in Southeastern Michigan

Diet of a colony of evening bats (Nycticeius humeralis Rafinesque) in Lenawee County, Michigan, was studied during 2006–2007, using standard fecal analysis. Of the 594 fecal pellets examined, the spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber: Coleoptera), green stink bug (Chinavia hilaris Say: Hemiptera), and emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire: Coleoptera) were identified and occurred at a frequency of 15, 12, and 0.8%; respectively, over the two years combined. In some weeks, up to 64% of the pellets analyzed contained fragments of spotted cucumber beetles, and up to 43% contained green stink bugs—two of the most injurious pests to corn and soybean. Consumption of spotted cucumber beetle and green stink bug appeared to coincide with the life history of these species. Conservation and management of suitable bat habitat adjacent to agricultural lands would likely benefit farmers and bats alike